Glissen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Irish families began to migrate to North America in the late 18th century in the hopes of gaining their own plot of land. The majority of these early immigrant families were relatively well off because the transatlantic passage was costly. As a result the decision to immigrate was carefully made. Those immigrants that arrived in the late 1840s differed because their decision to leave was in direct response to the Great Potato Famine. Many of the families that crossed the Atlantic during this decade were destitute, either having spent all they had on the fare or even starting with nothing, but being sponsored by a philanthropic society. Whenever, these Irish families came to North America, they were made great contributions to the developing nations of the United States and what would come to be known as Canada: the earlier settlers as land clearing homesteaders, and the later immigrants as the muscle that would build the industries and routes of transportation so critical to a powerful nation. Research into the passenger and immigration lists has shown many early and significant Irish immigrants bearing the name Glissen:

Glissen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Elix Glissen, who arrived in Virginia in 1655 1
• Bastiaan Glissen, who landed in New York in 1660 1

Glissen Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Mr. Joseph Glissen, (b. 1818), aged 30, English farm labourer who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 1st January 1850, arriving in Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, he died in 1858 from injuries received by a fall from a horse. 2